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In Cancer, the Antibody Beat Goes On

For the second time since the summer, a Top-Ten pharma company with an established oncology franchise has enlisted the aid of a biotech to give it a leg up in the development and manufacturing of therapeutic antibodies. In July, it was Aventis. Now, AstraZeneca is teaming up with human antibody producer Abgenix.

For the second time since the summer, a Top-Ten pharma company with an established oncology franchise has enlisted the aid of a biotech to give it a leg up in the development and manufacturing of therapeutic antibodies. In July, Aventis SA announced its foray into the field, via a deal with ImmunoGen Inc. [See Deal](See "Aventis Antes Up in Antibodies," IN VIVO, Sept. 2003 Also see "Aventis Antes Up in Antibodies " - In Vivo, 1 September, 2003..) Now, AstraZeneca PLC is teaming up with human antibody producer Abgenix Inc. in a transaction of much larger scope. [See Deal]

Like Aventis, AstraZeneca over the past two years had done a strategic review of its oncology program and decided it was time to add large molecules—antibodies, specifically—to its portfolio of...

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